Neynt Boke. Of the Nowmber of Shippes and the Þauy of the Grekes.
Comyn was by course þat the cold wyntur
Was wastid & went with his wete shoures.
ffrostes were faren, and the fell cold;
The slippond slete slidon of the ground;
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fflodys were fallyn into furse vales,
And into caues be course cleufit the erthe.
Wyndis wastid away, warmyt the ayre;
The rede beames aboue blusshet with hete;
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Ver entrid full euyn, eger with all.
The sun in his serkyll set in þe last,
Passyng fro pisshes vnder playn course;
ffeueryere faryn with his fuerse windes
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At the metyng of Marche with his mayn droghte.
The grete Nauy of Grekes with a grym oste,
Entrid into Attens, euyn at hor wille;
And holly in hauyn þere houyt þai to-gedur,
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ffor to rest in þe Rode & hor rede take.
Now wete yche wegh, þat writyng beholdis,
Or þat stares vpon stories, & stirs in bokys,
Þat syn the firmament was fourmed, & folke vpon erthe,
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Syche a Nauy was neuer of nowmber to-gedur;
Ne soche a company clene of knightes & other;
Ne so fele feghtyng men in a fflete somyn. [folio 63b]
Of the worthy þere were, thus þe write sais:—
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